Endress+Hauser fosters enthusiasm for technology

Experiment, invent, ask questions: 130 children explore the world of work.

Many companies have been feeling it for some time: Finding professionals for research, development and production is becoming increasingly difficult. Endress+Hauser wants to take a stand to counteract this trend. This is why on 12th and 13th August we were holding what is now our third "Kids' Day" event to foster enthusiasm in young people for the world of technology in a playful way.

Fostering enthusiasm for technology

Train driver, pilot and engineer used to be regarded as dream jobs. Finding technically qualified young people used to be the way of things for the economy. Today the situation is different. Scientific and technical occupations have declined in popularity with young people. Showing that the world of technology can be fun is the goal of numerous projects intended to foster enthusiasm for mathematics, computer science, natural science and technology.

The "Kids' Day" is in line with this aim. "At this event children and young people aged between 8 and 14 years will discover that our production halls are neither stuffy nor dusty – and certainly not boring," says Sonja Doerksen, Head of Human Resources at Endress+Hauser Flowtec. "Our aim is both to encourage an understanding of technology and show how a modern industrial company operates."

Play creates knowledge

Around 130 young people experienced the production of flowmeters up close and personal on a tour. This included welding, soldering, bending, assembling and testing components. It wasn't just about watching and listening, either. At various stops on the tour, the young "Gyro Gearlooses" could guess the weight of metal screws, feel materials, weigh substances accurately or punch a button out of a metal sheet – all in line with the motto: Play creates knowledge.

Afterwards, the children and young people were set the task of assembling a drawing machine equipped with two motors. The assembly kit was provided by "explore-it," a non-profit association of scientists and designers, who develop and supply educational materials for experiments especially for schools. The kits were sponsored by the Georg H. Endress Foundation which for decades has been committed to the education and training of young people.